Research Themes HE

Research Themes HE

Housing Economics

Housing economics and finance is a growing research area within the School of Real Estate & Planning with a strong interest in international, industry and policy relevant work. Research themes cover: (a) housing economics at the international, national, sub-national and local markets; (b) housing supply, the regulatory environment, planning and government policies; (c) financial market linkages and their implications for the housing market; and (d) institutional and policy regimes and their impact on housing market outcomes. International collaborative studies are regularly undertaken. Research outputs have a high policy and industry impact, with significant funding from research councils, government and industry.

Professor Michael Ball has studied the impact of planning on UK housing supply; the consequences of urban growth boundaries for house prices (with co-authors from RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia); the changing dynamics of the UK housebuilding industry; the housing consequences of an ageing society (with Dr Anupam Nanda); the impact of a growing private rented sector on UK housing markets; regulation and estate agents; future housing demand and the London economy; and large-scale institutional investment in UK residential property. Professor Ball is also working with a PhD researcher on Chinese housing market dynamics (Mr Linning Zhu).

Professor David Clapham has undertaken research on homelessness in collaboration with a co-author from Birmingham University including studies of the relationship between well-being, future planning and intentions to utilise intervention programmes and homelessness from a social psychological perspective. He has also undertaken work on happiness, well-being and housing policy as well as the future housing situation of young people (with colleagues from Cardiff University). Professor Clapham’s current work includes a study of regeneration and poverty; localism, the big society and housing policy; and a programme of research on consumer behaviour in housing markets. He is currently writing a book on supported housing in Britain and Sweden as part of his visiting professorship position with Uppsala University on Sweden.

Dr Anupam Nanda (with co-authors from the University of Connecticut) has studied US housing markets focusing on local public finance, school quality and housing location choice; regulation and house price dynamics; regulation in brokerage industry; and housing market forecasts. In terms of the UK housing market issues, Dr Nanda’s research included intermediate housing tenure choice (with Professor Gavin Parker); effect of energy performance ratings on house prices (with Professor Pete Wyatt and co-authors from UCL and the University of Cambridge). Dr Nanda is also working with two PhD researchers on housing market dynamics in Taiwan (Ms Jia-Huey Yeh) and house price determination in the islands of Greece (Ms Dimitra Kavarnou).

A long-term research interest in European housing markets is currently expanding following the marked divergences in country performance in recent years and growing large-scale investor interest in European residential investment.

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